AQO 1405/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 09/01/2025
Answered On Date: 22/01/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to outline any guidance his Department has issued to schools in relation to the influence of misogynistic social media content on boys and young men.

Answer:

Research published by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) highlights the promotion of misogynistic ideas online as an area of concern. The Board recently launched the Online Safety hub, delivered as part of the Executive’s “Keeping Children and Young People Safe: An Online Safety Strategy” and I can confirm that my Department funds the Safer Schools Northern Ireland app which provides tailored support and information about safeguarding issues and online harms, including extremist content and social media influencers. My Department also issues guidance to schools in relation to online safety and safeguarding more generally; Safeguarding and Child Protection in Schools - A Guide for Schools.

My Department participates in a range of cross-departmental strategies such as the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy and the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. My officials continue to engage and work with the Executive Office, the Department of Justice and Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment’s Council (CCEA) to take forward work in relation to supporting these strategies.

Our curriculum addresses issues such as violence against women and girls, understanding and respecting consent, dealing with misogyny and addressing coercive control. This provides opportunities for pupils to discuss issues including misogyny, consent and attitudes to women.

CCEA’s RSE Hub ensures that teachers can access resources to help address sensitive issues with their pupils, such as violence against women and girls, effects of social media on relationships and self-esteem and male privilege and misogyny.